Still confused about gathering limits?

29 August 2020

TO: Bishops, Branch Presidents and Stake Leaders

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

It appears there is still some confusion as to what are the guidelines for gatherings in our stake.

I’m confident I’m the source of some of that confusion. Please forgive me. I’ll try to sort out some things in this email.

Church’s Extra-Cautious Guidelines

Part of the confusion, I”m sure, is that the Church and the State of Oregon have different guidelines. In fact, everyone (federal, state, county, Church, temple, etc.) it seems has a set of “Phases” and guidelines and none of them are aligned.

Number one, the Brethren want us to always keep within state/local government guidelines. That’s typically not a problem because the Church asks us to be extra-conservative and  cautious in staying within those government guidelines.

For instance, even though the state’s faith gathering limit—with social distancing—right now is 50 people, the Area Presidency’s guidance is even more restrictive due to concerns of what they call “optics”—what it looks like to neighbors and passersby. As example:

1) We are not to use church buildings for any gatherings other than sacrament meetings (right now restricted to those on the program and operating the webcasting; eventually there will be limited attendance by members);

2) While the buildings can be used for an occasional interview, setting apart, baptismal service, presidency meeting (all of which are well within the 50 gathering limit), the Area Presidency is asking us to still hold most of these meetings via Zoom or other video conferencing and not the buildings;

3) While we are being encouraged to gather the youth for in-person activities, we are asked NOT to use the church buildings for these gatherings, but to meet in homes or in parks or other outdoor venues (this, of course, will likely change as winter approaches);

4) While most, if not all, of our youth activities would be well within the 50-person gathering limit, the Area Presidency continues to hear bishops expressing how difficult it is to get the youth to comply with social distancing guidelines (wearing masks, physical distancing, etc.) so they’re asking us to give emphasis to teaching quorum and class presidencies on how to strengthen the youth for whom they have stewardship through individual ministering or even groups as small as 2 to 4 people—and not the big gatherings.

As you can see, the Church is being far more conservative than state and local governments with guidelines for our gatherings. I’m sure that has caused some confusion.

What about social gatherings?

There is a question about one other state limit: social gatherings. The state has a gathering limit of 10 people for social gatherings.

• When members gather on their own for a study group or FHE, that would be a social gathering—with a limit of 10 people indoors, according to the state.

• When we gather in an “official” meeting or activity under the direction of stake or ward leaders, that is a faith gathering—then the limit is 50 people indoors and outdoors.

No Enforcement

When we have guidelines with numbers attached to them, it naturally creates pressure or a worry that we’ll be turned in if we’re unintentionally slightly over the limit.

This past week, I had a wonderful phone visit with with Maria Waters, the Faith Community Liaison for the Oregon Health Authority, which works directly under the governor. I took notes as quickly as possible and then drafted them into the attached document. There’s nothing new there, but it will give you additional information and context as to the “spirit” of what the OHA is trying to accomplish and what they expect of churches.

Please review it and feel free to ask me any additional questions.

I felt one of the most important nuggets I gleaned from our conversation is that the OHA does not work with the police, they are not trying to “catch” churches. There are no OHA agents or authorities dropping in on churches and counting attendance. They do respond to neighbors and others who contact them with concerns about what may appear to be infractions of the gathering limits.

Maria said they do follow up on complaints and contact the Church leaders Their first approach for addressing such issues is education. If that doesn’t resolve the matter, they will then consider enforcement (not clear exactly what they would do). But the most important thing is that they aren’t looking to crack down on churches, but educate them.

Bottom line

Hopefully you can see now why the Church is concerned about the “optics”—a lot of cars in the parking lot, a large group of youth playing on the lawn, etc.

The greater concern, of course, is not optics but preventing an outbreak among our members.We’re following extra-cautious guidelines not just to avoid the “optics,” but much more importantly to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak—to protect and keep our ward and branch members safe!

Thank you for all that you’re doing to help encourage compliance to the guidelines we’ve received. This will pass, as the Brethren consistently say, and we will return to a more normal life…some day. Thank you for your prayers that it might be soon.

President Lewis

Notifying of Area Presidency approval for a limited, in-person Seminary class

27 August 2020

Brothers Risenmay and Richards,

I am pleased to report that the proposal below, as recommended by you, has been approved by the North America West Area Presidency.

Thank you for caring so much for those youth who need this blessing of a limited in-person Seminary class. I’m confident the Area Presidency won’t want this "exception to the rule" to be widely known so please be prudent in telling others outside your ward.

I am copying this to Brother Ira Eldredge, the High Councilor who has responsibility for the facilities management in our stake, and ask that he instruct you both on how to limit exposure in the building and after-class cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Thank you both for taking the responsibility to ensure that the students and yourselves practice social distancing, including the wearing of masks, as directed by the Oregon Health Authority.

Congratulations and thank you again for caring enough to speak up.

President Lewis

PROPOSAL TO THE NA WEST AREA PRESIDENCY via Elder Lawrence Blunck, Area Seventy

Dear Brethren,

We have a growing ward in our stake located in Estacada, Oregon—a relatively remote community in the country 30 miles from Portland.

The Estacada Ward Seminary teachers, Tyler Risenmay and Jason Richards, are very close to their students. In fact, they both have children who attend Seminary.

Brothers Risenmay and Richards have made a special request for permission to provide in-person, early-morning Seminary for about 10 of the 14-15 students. All the other students prefer the virtual Seminary instruction, as planned.

As priesthood leaders, we have counseled together and feel this is a valid request. My second counselor, President Steven Christiansen, has been a school counselor at Estacada High School for many years. So he knows the youth in that school and ward very well. He confirmed that all 10 of the youth found virtual learning extremely challenging last spring and would benefit significantly from a small, in-person class. 

The plan is for these 10 students to attend early-morning Seminary in a meetinghouse classroom where they can be socially distanced (at least 6-feet apart). They will also be required to wear masks. The teachers are willing to accept responsibility that all who attend comply with state and church guidelines.

The two instructors are being trained on the Canvas software so they can provide adequate administrative support and instruction for both the in-person and online Seminary students.

Estacada Ward Bishop Andy Trujillo and the Stake Presidency are unanimous in supporting this recommendation, even though all of the students are part of the Estacada School District, which has decided to host school 100% virtually through October 30.

The current state guidelines allow for indoor, faith-based gatherings of up to 50 people provided they are socially distanced. That number will increase to 100 when we finally enter Phase 2.

Thank you very much for giving this your consideration.

Crismon Lewis

President, Mount Hood Oregon Stake

503-914-8689

Sharing about a special baptismal service

19 August 2020

TO: Stake Presidency, Bishops and Branch Presidents

Brethren,

I thought I’d share with you an experience that reminds us that “things are changing” in the world and in the Church. As you know, the doctrinal truths don't change, but policies and procedures can and do.

Point in case…

Recently Vivienne and I attended the baptism of our 8-year-old grandson in Vancouver. 

Only 10 persons were allowed to attend in-person…our daughter, her husband, their 5 children (including the 8-year-old), two grandparents (us) and one close cousin. There were at least 50 people (including another grandparent witnessing from Utah) were watching the proceedings—from Washington to Virginia—via Zoom.

Also witnessing via Zoom was their bishop.

Because we were all family and had been together before, we didn’t have to wear masks (that was nice).

Because it was now a family service, our daughter conducted the meeting. Her husband baptized their son and I assisted our son-in-law in confirming their son afterwards.

The mother (our daughter) and our 9-year-old, recently baptized, grandson served as witnesses at the font while the bishop witnessed via Zoom.

After the meeting, with the entire family participating, the 8-year-old was able to look at the laptop screen and see ALL the people who had attended virtually and thank them for attending. 

Frankly, it was a sweet, sweet experience for grandpa. plus it was a wonderful reminder that things are different in today’s world…and it’s wonderful to see how the Church can adapt.

Thought you’d enjoy, too.

Grandpa Lewis

Soon thereafter, I posted this email:

Hmmm…on second thought.

Maybe I should clarify. I’m sure the bishop, who can now preside at the baptismal service via Zoom, approved of our daughter conducting the service where only family members were in attendance in person.

But the Handbook in 18.7.2 reads: "When a baptismal service for 8-year-old children who are members of record involves only one ward, a member of the bishopric plans and conducts it.” There’s no indication he can delegate this role to anyone outside the bishopric.

Guidance for convert baptismal services reads: "Under the direction of the bishopric, the ward mission leader (if one is called) or the member of the elders quorum presidency who leads missionary work in the ward plans and conducts baptismal services for converts."

So, it appears there’s not a lot of leeway in who is authorized to conduct a baptismal service.

Thanks for doing what the Handbook says and not what my family did :)

PrL

Why I am recommending that we prepare to resume in-person sacrament meetings

12 August 2020

Steven and Everyone,

Thank you for your feedback. I have updated the proposed plan as per your suggestions with additional changes in an attempt to reflect answers to your concerns.

I’ll try to answer your questions in this email, as well.

As for the motivation…

In my opinion, there are two ways nations are responding to the pandemic.

We’ve all admired the countries that went into tough lock-downs and, it appears, brought the Covid-19 under control or even eradicated it.

America wasn’t so fortunate…wise…determined…caring...responsive to experts…whatever (pick your reason).

After 3-4 months in lock down, Americans decided they couldn’t beat the virus so they’ve decided to live with it…until a solution is found (vaccine, faster/cheaper testing, effective contact tracing, etc.).

The traffic on the highways and at airports tells us that Americans are already back to living…taking individual precautions (face masks, social distancing, etc.) and living with the risk.

So I personally feel we need to begin preparing leaders and members on how to minimize the risk so those who desire can return to church. And those who don’t want to return yet do not feel pressure to do so.

To me, this is just the beginning of more “plagues” to come (D&C 84:97). We now have the opportunity to learn together how to deal with them as a church…and not run or hide from them.

No, there is no groundswell of requests from stake members or bishops asking that we begin in-person meetings. I simply feel we need to begin learning how to safely return to church meetings and activities, as was taught us in the May 19, 2020 letter from the Brethren.

My intent is not to mandate anything to anyone beyond asking the wards in September to return to their original sacrament meeting start times and to webcast from the chapel in September...as a preparatory step. Hopefully they will gain confidence to begin in-person meetings as early as October or whenever they feel comfortable in doing so. And then, when they feel they are ready, they can start administering the sacrament in their meetings. It will be their decision.

As I sat on the stand and watched our meeting unfold last Sunday, I could see how we really can make this work to bring us back together.

I confess I have been influenced by listening to family members in other parts (including in Eugene and Utah) who are back to in-person meetings. They say it feels so good to be back and find it well worth the inconvenience of the restrictions (masks, social distancing, etc.). 

I noticed that another group of temples, including the Medford Temple, have now been granted Phase 2 status. 

The Church is moving forward even in areas where the Covid numbers haven’t dropped dramatically. The Church is finding ways to make it work.

My hope is that I can convince leaders (including our presidency) and members that we can do this. We can learn how to gather the saints safely even during a pandemic…or whatever future plague awaits us around the corner.

I feel like the Lord wants our stake to gather as best and safely as possible. The attached plan is a road map. It doesn’t have to be the only map, but at least it gets us moving in the right direction.

I hope this helps. I appreciate your counsel and need your help as we walk this uncharted path together. 

Crismon

Invitation to participants for Walters Hill Ward sacrament for change in bishopric

7 August 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You are invited to participate in the Walters Hill Ward in-person sacrament meeting this Sunday, Aug 9, at 10:30 am at the stake center. You will have a designated seat on the stand.

Due to prescribed limitations of in-person meetings, we regret you will not be able to invite your families to join you in this meeting. An exception has been granted to the outgoing and incoming bishops. 

The meeting will be webcast to all ward members and, for those involved in the setting apart afterwards, you are invited to arrange for a live stream of the setting apart to those of your choosing. All settings apart will be conducted in the chapel overflow shortly after the close of the sacrament meeting.

Only those seated on the stand and Brothers Mueller (technology support) and Eldredge (High Councilor over facilities) are receiving this email. Will each of you please share this information with those you’ve been authorized to invite?

Please take note of the following guidelines for this in-person meeting:

• Families attending are to sit together and away from others in the chapel;

• Everyone inside the building must always wear a face covering (mouth and nose) except when speaking at the pulpit;

• Please do not hug or shake hands with those outside your family;

• All who speak at the pulpit are asked to use a disinfectant wipe (to be provided) to wipe down the microphone and pulpit surface after each use;

• Due to social distancing requirements, children unable to remain seated are asked not to attend;

• Those older than 60 years of age attend at their own risk;

• If needed, use only the restrooms closest to the chapel (women’s off the north hall, men’s off the south hall);

• In order to limit in-person exposure, those connected to the current bishopric please enter and exit through the ward-side doors; those in the new bishopric enter and exit through the stake-side doors;

• To minimize the number of vehicles in the parking lot, please carpool wherever possible;

• The sacrament will not be administered in this meeting, so please arrange for the sacrament to be administered at home.

The program, including those conducting, prayers, music and speakers, have been assigned by the stake presidency.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact President Lewis at 503-914-8689.

We look forward to joining with you for this very special sacrament meeting.

The Stake Presidency